Where Will I Go From Here?

I think it's amazing how God not only works everything out for our good and His glory, but also how He reassures us when we're on the right track! Today the youth ministry at my church started an awesome Bible study/outreach ministry program called the Beautiful Feet Initiative. It's for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers that are interested in studying the Word of God and also getting a chance to share the Gospel with those who don't know Jesus. Not only that, but it also invites anyone who doesn't know Jesus to join and they can hear the Gospel as well! You see, when I started volunteering at church, I had no idea that I would get a chance to really work with teens and pre-teens already! I'm gonna be starting my Biblical education in a few months and I'm already getting hands-on experience in youth ministry! I think to myself, "if it really wasn't in God's plan to have me go into youth ministry, then why open all of these doors and opportunities?" It's almost like He's walking ahead of me and saying, "Here, Zeth! I opened another door for you!" I'm pretty sure that's how it's going too!

So, being that tonight was the first night of B.F.I., it seemed, to me anyway, that it was kind of a little out of control, but it was fun all the same! Middle-schoolers can be a challenge for sure, but I really enjoy working with them! I can't wait to see what God does with this ministry and where He will lead me from here! I'm amazed at how everything is unfolding one by one!

Earlier today I was thinking about my career path and what I would be doing as a youth pastor and man let me tell you, it's gonna be tough, but so worth it in the end! I honestly can't see myself doing anything else that is not directly ministry-related! It's cool that I'm already putting my foot through that door and even cooler that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere else as well! And the more I think of it, the more I realize that this life is about nobody else but Jesus and the Gospel! That's all. Why focus on anything else when I already have everything?

Daily I make the effort to constantly make Jesus everything in my life, not just an aspect or part of my life. Jesus is my life! I still fail at times and I might miss opportunities to show His love instead of just proclaiming it, but I ask for forgiveness when I fail and for strength to do it next time! Like the apostle Paul says in Philippians 3, I say "Brothers (and sisters), I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

So Much Time, So Many Problems, So Much God!

Wow, lately I've just been feeling so drained. Although, I can't really understand why because I've been getting to bed at the normal time, but I still wake up tired. In turn, it makes me feel unmotivated during the day, which is a feeling I hate :P

But among my "issues", I still live life. School is going by and it's not such a bad semester. Considering I was taking 5 classes and working 20 hours a week last semester, it's nice to have to only take 2 classes this semester! Granted, it's still tiring at times. Knowing that this is my final semester for my A.A. is a very encouraging and sobering thought! The only problem is that it gives me the mentality that "it's almost done" and I begin to slack a bit, which doesn't benefit me. Even though it feels like a big "problem" for me, I know that this semester is small compared to what God has in store for me!

Time flies. My goodness, does it! I was just discussing with a friend this week that 2 years has brought on a lot of changes. I'm blown away by all the marriages that have happened right before my eyes, especially seeing friends that I have known for many years get married. It's a weird thought, but man, it makes me really think about growing up. No matter how much we may not want to get old, it is inevitable and we have to conform to it eventually. I'm conforming more and more when life unfolds. Partly because I'm excited and partly because I give in to the inevitable. But truly, I can't wait to see what God has in store! He has blown me away in just the past two years, imagine what He will do in the next 10 years!

With every good thing that comes our way, there is always some bad things to accompany it; it's just up to us on how we take it. I, for one, do not want to sulk in my sorrows. The apostle Paul never did. In fact, God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response to that wasn't, "Crap! Come on, God! Seriously? Why can't Your power be made perfect in my strength and good times?" Paul's response was, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions. For when I am weak, then I am strong." That is totally not my initial response! But I sure would love for it to be! I mean to think, God uses the weak times in our life over our best and strong times! And why is that? Because He is glorified when people see that we are not working on our own strength! And I want God to be glorified!

On the outside, I may look like I have it all together, but let me assure you, I don't. I am imperfect just like everyone else; I sin just like everyone else; I go through difficulties just everyone else; I am in need of Jesus just like everyone else. Right now I'm going through some difficulties that I sure hope glorifies God! I never did and still don't have an easy life, but I'd rather have difficulties and have Jesus by my side than have an easy life without Jesus! For those of you who read this, pray for me. I need a lot of strength to overcome a lot and I can only do that with Jesus and your prayers! And through all of this, I still say: God is good, all the time!